Azalea plant `Cherish`

ABSTRACT

An azalea plant named Cherish, particularly characterized by its evergreen foliage, semi-double hose-in-hose flower form with slightly frilled margins, coral-pink flower color with a dark coral-pink blotch, ease of budding, uniform and dense plant habit, free branching, rapid and uniform flower response in a year round controlled program, excellent cooler tolerance and very good keeping quality.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Azelea, agreenhouse forcing type, hereinafter referred to as Cherish.

Cherish, identified as Code 1037 during the selection process,originated from a planned cross hybridization between two selectedbreeding lines in a controlled breeding program in Fort Myers, Fla.

The female, or seed parent of Cherish is the unpatented cultivar Alaska,a white single to semi-double. The male, or pollen parent is a seedlingknown as Code 227, a proprietary breeding line.

Cherish was discovered and selected by Wendy R. Bergman as one floweringplant within the progeny of the stated cross in January 1992, in FortMyers, Fla.

The first asexual reproduction of Cherish was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in April 1992,in Fort Myers, Fla., by technicians working under formulationsestablished and supervised by Wendy R. Bergman.

Horticultural examination of controlled flowerings of successivegenerations of plants derived from cuttings taken from the originalselection has shown that the unique combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for Cherish are fixed and retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Cherish has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary signficantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity and day length,without, however, any variance in the genotype.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsthat were grown in Fort Myers, Fla. in a controlled greenhouseenvironment and following a commercial schedule.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Cherish, which, in combination, distinguishthis azalea as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Coral-pink flower color (48C) with a dark coral-pink blotch.

2. Semi-double hose-in-hose flower form with a slightly ruffled petalmargin.

3. The flowers range in size from 7.5 to 10.0 cm in diameter with 9.5 cmthe avarage size.

4. Spreading, dense and symmetrical plant habit.

5. Fast, uniform response in year round controlled flowering programs,forcing in 30 days on average.

6. Good longevity in a simulated home environment, with flowers lastingup to 25 days.

7. Excellent foliage retention and no flower bud damage when cooled for6 weeks with no lighting at 38° F.

The accompanying color photograph shows in perspective view the uniquefeatures of the new cultivar, with colors being as true as possible withcolor illustrations of this type.

Of the commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similar incomparison to Cherish is the unpatented cultivar Gloria. Cherish issimilar to Gloria in having coral-pink flower color, but the colors ofthe respective cultivar are not precisely the same. Both Cherish andGloria have similar spreading, dense, compact plant habits, and darkgreen glossy foliage.

Cherish differs from Gloria in that Cherish has larger, more fullypetaled flowers and does not posess a white petal margin.

In the following description color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determined onMar. 13, 1995. All readings were taken in an office under cool whitefluorescent lights, facing a west window between the hours of 10:00 a.mand 2:00 p.m.

Classification:

Botanical .--Rhododendron hybrida, evergreen type.

Commercial.--Florist forcing pot azalea, cv. Cherish.

Inflorescence

Flower (general):

Size.--7.5 to 10.0 cm.

Born.--Terminal cluster, usually three (3) per bud, ranging from two tofour (2-4). Occasionally more than one bud per stem.

Form.--Hose-in-hose. Funnel-form.

Blooming habit.--Once profusely. Buds easily and uniformly in ayear-round flowering program. The majority of terminal buds break colorwithin one (1) week of the first. Flowering begins approximately 30 daysafter the start of forcing.

Fragrance.--Slight.

Corolla (petals):

Texture.--Soft.

Substance.--Heavy.

Shape.--Rounded with slightly undulate margin.

Color (fully open).--Generally 48C, coral-pink. Upper Surface: Edge:48C. Center: 48C. Base: 48D. Lower surface: 43D. Blotch: 48A.

Bud:

Size.--Medium.

Shape.--Conoidal.

Color.--Mixture of 48A, 48B, and 48C.

Bud sheath.--Light green with light brown hairs.

Calyx:

Form.--Petaloid (hose-in-hose). Irregularly lobed margin.

Color.--48C. Lower surface: 43D.

Peduncle:

Length.--1.3-2.5 cm.

Strength.--Strong.

Aspect.--Pubescent.

Reproductive organs:

Androecium (stamens).--Number: Zero to five (0-5), many are petaloid.Anthers: 185A. Filaments: Length: 1.6-2.8 cm. Color: 49B.

Gynoecium (pistil).--Stigma: 145A. Style: Length: 0.3-3.7 cm. Color:51B. Ovary: Pubescent.

Plant characteristics:

Foliage:

Type.--Evergreen.

Arangement.--Alternate.

Shape.--Obovate.

Size.--Length: 2.0-6.5 cm. Width: 1.3-3.0 cm.

Margin.--Entire.

Color.--Immature: Upper surface: 143A. Lower Surface: 144A. Mature:Upper surface: Between 136A. and 147A. Lower surface: 147B.

Texture.--Leathery.

Tomentum.--Present on upper surface. Insignificant.

Stems:

Color.--Immature: 145A. Mature: Between 165A and 165B. Tomentum:Present, dark brown, Insignificant.

Plant habit: Compact, spreading, dense bush which is uniform andsymmetrical in a six-inch (6") pot when pinched three (3) times. Totalcrop time to the dormant budded stage is 40-42 weeks to produce a plantapproximately 35 cm in diameter and having a total height of 30-36 cm.Internode lengths may vary widely from 2-28 mm on the same stem.

Branching habit: Free branching, three to five (3-5) breaks a vegetativecutting is pinched.

Rooting: Roots easily in eight to ten (8-10) weeks with 75° F. soiltemperature.

Budding ease: Plants produce flower buds easily and uniformly year roundwith the use of commercially available plant growth regulators. Naturalseason response has not been ascertained.

Cooler tolerance: Plants placed in a cooler as a means of breakingdormancy perform very well. Cherish is tolerant of six (6) weeks in anunlighted cooler at 38F. without any bud damage or foliage lossoccuring.

Blooming: Plants reach the stage of 12 buds showing color in 30 days onaverage after the cooling treatment. This varies from 24 to 38 daysdepending upon time of year. Cherish flowers uniformly and profuselyacross the plant.

Shelf life: When plants are moved to an office or home environment atthe stage of eight (8) open flowers, they maintain an attractiveappearance for 25 days on average.

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of azalea named Cherish,as described and illustrated.